Integrated Wearable Costume and Storage Case

ABSTRACT

A combination backpack and garment carrying apparatus is disclosed. The combination backpack and garment carrying apparatus includes a back plate, a cover, a frame, and garment segments. These pieces combined together create a combination backpack and garment carrying apparatus that allows the wearer to easily access, store, and carry a costume. The wearer activates a switch on the combination backpack and garment carrying apparatus and opens the lids allowing the garment segments to fall out and be pulled over the wearer&#39;s arms, legs, and head.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a costume and, more particularly, to a costume that is integrated with a storage case, both of which are to be worn by the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children enjoy dressing up and playing with costumes of their favorite characters. In order to do this, the child usually must carry around bulky costumes that include many different pieces. With these types of costumes, pieces can become lost or broken destroying the costume integrity. Additionally, it is difficult for children to carry bulky costumes with multiple pieces when going to school or to play with friends. Therefore, it is desirable that a costume be designed that is easy to carry, is in discrete pieces, is part of one integral system, and does not become separated so as to avoid becoming lost or damaged.

Various techniques have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D260697 (Fitzgerald et al.), D260698 (Fitzgerald et al.), 4,057,854 (Phelps), 4,174,059 (Maunder), 4,662,550 (O'Donnell), 4,689,831 (Greenberger et al.), 5,165,111 (Lieberman), 5,255,834 (Bendersky), 5,379,911 (Goto et al.), 5,526,969 (Greenberger), 5,815,833 (Kuo), 5,878,931 (Morphet), 6,134,712 (Spector), 6,343,968 (Louie et al.), 6,564,388 (Poston), 6,751,806 (Hinnant) and U.S. Patent Application No. 20060070169 (Liff et al.) to create bags with integral garments or children's play characters. However, these disclosures suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages. First, none of these inventions include a child's play costume as an integral part of the carrying device. Second, all of these inventions are cumbersome. Third, none of these inventions are simple designs that are easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The present invention overcomes all of these deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a carrying apparatus that provides the user the ability to easily access, store, and carry a costume that is an integral part of the carrying apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment carrying apparatus with at least one compartment having a lid and at least one garment segment.

It is a further object of the present invention for the garment segment to be housed in the compartment such that when the lid is opened, the garment segment is accessible to be worn by the user of the garment carrying apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment carrying apparatus that includes a costume as an integral part of the carrying apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a garment carrying apparatus that is not cumbersome when worn.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a garment carrying apparatus that easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a garment carrying apparatus that prevents a child's costume from getting lost.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the dry snorkel when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function.

Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later developed equivalent structures, materials, or acts for performing the claimed function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the invention on the back of a user.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the garment carrying apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the cover of the preferred embodiment of the garment carrying apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the back plate and the frame that forms the compartments of the preferred embodiment of the garment carrying apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the back plate and the shoulder straps and waist belt of the preferred embodiment of the garment carrying apparatus.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the deployed costume from the garment carrying apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An exploded view of the garment carrying apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, the garment carrying apparatus 10 comprises a back plate 100, a frame 200, a cover 300, and an outfit made of garment segments 400 as shown in FIG. 6. The back plate 100, frame 200, and cover 300 are coupled together such that four compartments 110, 115, 120, and 125 are created inside the garment carrying apparatus 10. Each of these four compartments 110, 115, 120, and 125 house a garment segment 400.

In the preferred embodiment, the cover 300 is coupled to the frame 200 with an adhesive. The cover 300 is made of molded flexible urethane or foam and includes fields for decals. The back plate 100 is secured to the frame 200 with fasteners 230 as shown in FIG. 4. The fasteners 230 are inserted into holes 235 that are along both sides of the back plate 100 and the frame 200

The frame 200 includes dividers 220 that partition the frame into the four compartments 110, 115, 120, and 125. The four compartments 110, 115, 120, and 125 are located so that the wearer can access the garment segments 400 to be worn on his or her head, arms, and legs. Specifically, the top compartment 110 houses the garment segment 400 that the wearer would pull over his or her head. The bottom compartment 120 houses the garment segment 400 that the wearer would pull over his or her legs. Finally, the side compartments 115 and 125 house the garment segments 400 that the wearer would pull over his or her arms.

Further, the frame 200 includes lids 210 that allow the wearer to access the garment segments 400. The lids 210, as shown in FIG. 2, are located over each compartment 110, 115, 120, and 125. In the preferred embodiment, the lids 210 are hinged and open when activated by the wearer. There are switches or knobs on the frame 200 of the combination garment carrying apparatus 10 that the wearer manipulates to open the lids 210. It is preferred that the lids 210 open simultaneously allowing the side and bottom garment segments 400 to slightly fall out of the side and bottom compartments 115, 120, and 125. When the side and bottom garment segments 400 fall out of the side and bottom compartments 115, 120, and 125, the wearer stretches the side and bottom garment segments 400 over his or her arms and legs. The wearer can then reach over his or her head to pull out the top segment 400 from the top compartment 110.

The garment segments 400 remain attached to the compartments 110, 115, 120, and 125 when accessed and worn by the wearer. This allows the garment carrying apparatus 10 to be an integral part of the costume garment. Because the garment segments 400 are attached to the compartments 110, 115, 120, and 125, the garment segments are not easily lost or broken. Additionally, when the user wishes to replace and store the garment segments 400 when finished wearing the costume, the top, bottom, and side garment segments 400 are easily returned into their respective compartments 110, 115, 120, and 125.

In the preferred embodiment, the garment segments 400 create a costume as seen in FIG. 6. The garment carrying apparatus 10 includes a unique type of costume such as a variety of animals, superheroes, etc. Any type of costume that would appeal to the wearer could be part of the invention. Additionally, because the garment segments 400 remain attached to the compartments 110, 115, 120, and 125, the cover 300 of the garment carrying apparatus 10 would also be decorated to match the costume.

The back plate 100 further includes shoulder straps 150 and a waist belt 160 to allow the wearer to attach the garment carrying apparatus 10 to his or her back as seen in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment, the back plate 100 includes three pair of slots 170, 175, and 180 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Two pair of slots 170 and 175 receive the shoulder straps 150. The slots 170 and 175 that receive the shoulder straps 150 are positioned toward the top of the back plate 100, and the shoulder straps 150 are threaded through the slots 170 and 175 such that the wearer can slide his or her arms through the shoulder straps 150 and carry the garment carrying apparatus 10 on his or her back. The waist belt 160 is threaded through the pair of slots 180 that are located toward the bottom of the back plate 100.

Preferably, the shoulder straps 150 and the waist belt 160 include pads where a hook and loop type fastener can attach. The garment segments 400 each include a hook and loop type fastener that attaches to the shoulder straps 150 and the waist belt 160 when worn over the arms and legs. This allows the wearer to keep the garment secured to him while the garment segments 400 are deployed and being worn.

The waist belt 160 further includes a belt buckle 165. Preferably, the belt buckle 165 is made of plastic and includes an electronic mechanism. The electronic mechanism includes a battery pack, a small speaker, and a number of buttons and lights. The electronic mechanism on the belt buckle 165 provides an additional element to the costume garment included in the garment carrying apparatus 10.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the one embodiment, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

1. A combination wearable garment carrying apparatus and costume comprising: A. a compartment, said compartment further comprising a lid; B. an outfit, wherein said outfit further comprises at least one garment segment that stretches over a human body; C. said garment segment is housed in said compartment such that when said lid is opened, said garment segment is accessible to be worn on said human body; and D. said garment segment remains attached to said compartment.
 2. The garment carrying apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: A. a back plate, said back plate further comprising: i. a shoulder strap; and ii. a waist belt; B. a cover; C. said back plate and said cover are coupled together such that said compartment is located between said back plate and said cover; and allow a user to wear the combination garment carrying apparatus and costume on said body.
 3. The garment carrying apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein each compartment houses a separate garment segment.
 4. The garment carrying apparatus of claim 3 wherein said plurality of compartments further comprise a lid for each said compartment.
 5. The garment carrying apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lid is activated by a switch located on said combination backpack and garment carrying apparatus.
 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein said garment segment is made of lycra.
 7. A method for making a combination garment carrying apparatus and costume comprising the steps of: A. housing an outfit in a compartment wherein said outfit comprises a garment segment that stretches over a human body and said compartment further comprises a lid; B. opening said lid such that said garment segment is accessible to be worn on said human body while said garment segment remains attached to said compartment.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of: A. coupling a back plate and a cover together such that said compartment is located between said back plate and said cover; B. coupling a shoulder strap and a waist belt to said back plate such that a user can wear said combination garment carrying apparatus and costume on said human body.
 9. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of making said garment segment of lycra.
 10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of creating a plurality of compartments in said garment carrying apparatus such that each compartment houses a separate garment segment.
 11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of activating said lid with a switch wherein said switch is located on said garment carrying apparatus. 